The Moonlight Swordsman

Aizel, Hazel, and Seraphine headed back to Felgura City, leaving David and Katherine behind with one of their horses.

When they reached the city, Aizel directed them to the potion shop. It was part of the deal he made with Seraphine in exchange for assisting David and Katherine in their escape.

Aizel and Seraphine arrived at the potion shop, and Aizel told Hazel to keep the horses outside. Seraphine immediately locked the door behind her as they entered the business.

"Oh my, what a surprise you have brought to me, pretty boy." The purple-haired woman behind the counter glanced at them while reading the book.

"She has some business with you," Aizel said.

Seraphine swiftly dropped down to one knee and lowered her head in a respectful bow before speaking, "It's an honor to meet the 'Vespara Bloodmoon' War Goddess of the Kingdom."

"Just call me Vespara, darling," she giggled.

"Your name sounds more like a vampire," Aizel commented.

"What are those?" Vespara asked as the name piqued her interest.

Damn it, a slip of the tongue Aizel pretended to be in deep thought.

"While I was traveling to the beast kingdom, I met those monsters; they have the ability to suck and drink blood and can even manipulate it."

"Oh, interesting. Next time when you face such a creature, bring me a specimen, and I will give you a treat you will never forget in your life, my pretty boy." Vespara replied while licking her lips seductively.

Seraphine cast an uneasy glance at Aizel, who sighed in response.

"Now, what do you need?"

"I want to be your student, Miss Vespara; I want to become strong." Seraphine quickly replied.

"And why so?"

"So, I can have my revenge."

Vespara took a moment to gaze at her, and then responded, "I can't teach you anything, Seraphine; I can only help you get high-level magic knowledge and spells, along with potions and artifacts.

"Neither do I use spears nor have the same magic affinity as yours."

Seraphine's shoulders drooped slightly; disappointment evident on her face.

"But I have another way." Vespara continued.

"Follow my pretty boy on his journey, and you will become strong on your own with him."

Aizel's eyes widened in surprise, while Seraphine gazed at him with a hint of uncertainty.

"I am sorry to say, but I don't think he is worthy enough for me to follow him."

"Yeah, I also don't want you to follow me around," Aizel replied quickly. It seemed like he got hurt by her response.

Vespara burst out laughing as she dashed towards Aizel.

"Oh, believe me, darling, this boy is special. He holds the key to your revenge." She licked him on his cheeks while Aizel quickly backed away, rubbing his cheeks in a frenzy.

"You old hag, don't get horny with me. Find someone else."

*****

Meanwhile...

The distant sound of crashing waves got louder as David and Katherine traveled through the left side of Felgura Kingdom, signaling they were approaching the ocean that served as the boundary between the Felgura and the Beast Kingdom.

"We are quite far from them now," Katherine whispered, her arms encircling David's waist, holding on tightly as they rode on the horse towards the ocean.

"Yes, but we need to leave the kingdom as soon as possible."

"David, look, there is a lone carriage over there." Katherine pointed in the direction of an empty carriage.

"David, it's me, Thomas."

A voice echoed in the distance; David hurriedly made his way toward the source.

"Thomas, what are you doing here, my friend?"

The cloaked figure cried out, forcing David and Katherine to dismount and rush up to him.

"It's good to see you, my friend, David; we have no time for chit-chat. I have prepared for you the carriage that will take you straight to the ocean. There you will find a man who will take you on a ship to the beast kingdom."

David rushed towards the hooded figure and embraced him tightly, his lips curling into a soft smile.

"I will never forget this, Thomas; I hope to see you again."

Thomas wanted to embrace David, but he shoved him aside and urged, "Don't linger; it's not safe here. Go!"

After Thomas said his goodbyes, David took Katherine's hand and assisted her into the carriage.

As David and Katherine boarded the carriage, a small pink flower emitted pollen and gas into the air. The couple quickly noticed and covered their noses to avoid inhaling it.

Despite their attempts to block it, they both started coughing, and tears streamed down their faces. Within a few seconds, they both collapsed, unable to resist the effects of the gas.

"I am sorry, David."

*****

David's eyes slowly opened, stinging with an irritating itch. He tried to rub them but realized his hands were tied behind a wooden pole that was firmly fixed to the ground.

Looking around, he noticed that he was in the same village where he and Katherine had spent a few days, but it was now completely burned down.

As David's vision cleared, he found many people seated on luxurious sofas, each adorned with flags representing their respective households.

Among them, he spotted his own family. His mother glared at him in disgust, while her sister remained expressionless. His grandfather avoided eye contact, and Thomas stood behind his sister, seemingly aloof to the situation.

*Clap* *Clap*

"Now that we are all here, let me first say what a brilliant job Leah Rosewell. Well done! She is worthy of being the successor of her family."

The prince rose to his feet and applauded, prompting the others to do the same. Yelena, beaming with pride, gazed at her daughter in silence.

"As for the reward, you can ask me anything, Leah."

Leah gracefully lowered her head and spoke with the utmost respect,

"There is a mage known as 'Aizel' and I wish to make him mine, my prince."

"Who is he?" The prince asked.

The Crestfall family elder approached him, his eyes widening in surprise as he heard the whispered words.

"I am sorry, but ask something else." The prince replied, which shocked everyone.

A murmur began to ripple through the crowd as the news swiftly spread among them.

"What, disciple of the War Goddess, when did it happen?"

"Interesting."

"He might be worthy of my daughter."

The group was engrossed in discussing their plans for dealing with the mage named Aizel when a sudden shout interrupted them, causing all heads to turn in its direction.

"THOOOOOMMAAASSSSSS..."

"You motherfucker, how dare you to cross me after what I did for you," David shouted in rage.

David's gaze landed on Katherine, who was tied naked to the same wooden pole beside the prince. Whip marks crisscrossed her body, and she appeared to be unconscious.

"Harold, how can you let this happen to your own daughter? She is with a child. Leave her out of this and kill me. I was the one who made her escape with me." David shouted in rage; he was losing his sanity.

"HAHAHAHA... Harold, this guy fucked your daughter pretty hard, I guess." A mage from the Balthazar family commented while laughing.

"Shut up! it's because of you fucker. Not only did you make her leave her family behind, you even sullied her with your seed. She is not my daughter anymore." Harold replied while fuming.

"Just kill them already, please, I cannot see this embarrassment any longer," Yelena said.

"You fuckers, I will kill you all. If anyone dares to touch her," David shouted while trying to break his rope.

As David watched, his heart pounding in his chest, the prince rose from his seat and summoned a whip. With a cruel glint in his eye, he began to lash it mercilessly across Katherine's naked body, causing her to convulse in pain.

"I will kill you, I will kill you,"

David struggled with all his might, pulling against the rope that bound him to the post. With a sudden burst of strength, the rope gave way, and David charged toward the prince with a burst of speed.

As he dashed for the prince, Thomas met him with a swift kick to the gut, sending him tumbling back through the air.

David struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his lips. "You ungrateful coward," he spat. "I was going to name my son after you, and this is how you repay me?"

As he threw a quick jab at Thomas, water whips emerged and restrained him, tying him to the ground.

"Enough, let's get this over with." the prince's voice echoed.

With a wave of his hand, a mesmerizing orange flame materialized, and the prince moved closer to Katherine.

"Today will mark our first statement against the riot group. We pray for more victories in the future. FOR OUR KINGDOM"

"FOR OUR KINGDOM"

The prince unleashed it on her, causing the flames to engulf her body. The intense heat brought her back to consciousness, and she cried a deafening scream.

"KATHERINEEEE….you fuckers, I will kill you. I will burn you all alive. I will tear you all limb from limb."

As he heard Katherine's anguished screams, David's mind shattered, and tears flowed down his cheeks as he watched his lover burn before his eyes.

All of his aspirations and ambitions for a quiet life with her and their unborn child were extinguished along with her. He had no control over anything, and the realization filled him with rage and anguish.

"Kill him." the prince gave the final order.

As Thomas unsheathed his sword, David saw it glinting menacingly in the light. In a swift motion, the sword pierced through his stomach, and blood gushed out of the wound. David's eyes turned red with hatred as he cursed everyone around him.

"Remember... I'll... crawl my way out of the death... and burn this wretched kingdom alive."